Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698944120136.pdf (Uganda)
TO 2 Y hlll ?022 RECE IVED Kh o.B ox ztlB, ,o OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION ATTERNATIVE MINISTERIAL POLICY STATEMENT INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOTOGY AND NATIONAI GUIDANCE.

rY 2022/2023 HON.

BAGALA JOYCE NTWATWA.

SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFORMATION COMMUNICATION CHNOTOGY AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE.

MARCH, 2022.

TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY LIST OF ACRONYMS ..Error!

Bookmork nol defined.i CHAPTER I: BACKGROUND TO ALTERNATIVE POLICY STATEMENT 1.2 Sector Overview.
CHAPTER 2: Budget Anolysis of the sector 2.1 Budget Allocotion ond Key outcomes .

Chopter 3.

Emerging Sectorol lssues ond Alternotive Policies CHAPTER 4.

Conclusion.. iii ..2 .7 l9 Execulive Summory.

The sector hos two votes nomely; Vote 020 for MoICT ond NG, ond Vote 126 for NITA-U.

The budget ollocotion for this FY2022123 is 303.,l 58bn representing 0.8% of the totol notionol budget.
Compored to lost FY 2021/22 o totol budget of 101.77bn wos ollocoted to the sectorwhich represented03% of the totol notionol budget ollocotion.

Even though there is on increment of 0.5% to the sector, the funding gop of 242.55bn to the sector mokes it grossly underfunded.

UCC wos ollocoted the highest budget of l68.lbn (55%) of the totol budget for the sector, the rest (45%) wos shored by the remoining 5 ogencies depicting the unfoir distribution of resources.
Besides, 8bn wos not occounted for in the proposed budget ollocotions.

There is o mismotch between the Ministeriol policy stotement torgets ond the torgets os envisoged in the NDP lll.

For instonce, the creotion of 500,000 jobs in the ICT sector, increosed occess to the internet Io 70% doesn't motch whot the Ministeriol Policy stotement torgeted outcomes.

The budget doesn't hove meosures for reducing the cost of ICT devices ond services, reducing the cost of the internet from $237 to $70.
lt olso doesn't toke into occount whot NDP lll envisoges in reducing the cost of smortphones from Shs.,l00,000 to Shs.60,000.

Unfortunotely, the Ugondon-mode SlMl smortphones cost between 100,000 to 300,000 of foctory prices higher thon whot NDP lll torgets.

There is no budget for operotionolizotion of the UCC Tribunol in FY 2022123 yet we continue experiencing o lock of press freedom due to the lock of the Tribunol.
ln pursuit of its mondote, ICT Sector foces o number of chollenges nomely; high cost of end-user ICT Devices ond Services, lock of UCC Tribunol leoding to poor quolity services, biosed conduct of UCC, limited network coveroge, ICT infrostructure, ond inodequote ICT knowledge coupled with poor godgets limits connectivity ond ICT usoge.

We still foce the problem of limited innovotion copocity.

Other chollenges include; lncreosed cybercrime ond cyberbullying.
Unfoir competition omong telecommunicotions componies in Ugondo ond restriction of press ond medio freedoms in the country.

ln order to overcome such shortcomings, the government is put to the tosk of executing the following key olternotive policies; Government should scrop the 30% tox (12% levy on the net price of internet doto ond VAT of 18%) on internet doto levied since July I , 202.l.
Fost trock the process of loying underground internet infrostructure, enhonce the budget for the sector from the currenl 0.8% of the notionol budget to of leost 1% due to the importonce of the sector to the development of this country.

Let the Government funds for the creotion of the UCC Tribunol.

Restoring Focebook bock to sove businesses thot were offected should be done immediotely.
Otherwise, with the continued foilure to hove the UCC Tribunol in ploce, telecom componies ond the oggrieved ogencies ond individuols will be forced to use expensive redress in courts of low.

Telecommunicotions componies con exploit ovenues of olternotive Dispute Resolution (ADR) like Arbitrotion ond negotiotion.

The government con olso hire o consulting firm to resolve conflicts in the telecom industry.

Amending lCT-reloted lows to keep poce with chonges in technology would fight cybercrime.
For the limited internet coveroge, stimulotion of demond for ICT devices ond services would expond services to underserved oreos.
ilt T T t T T I I I I I I T I T T I t I T T T IV IIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS MoICT GDP MDA MPS NBI Ministry of lnformotion Communicotions ond Technology Gross Domestic Product Ministries, Deportments, ond Agencies Ministeriol Policy Stotements Notionol Bock Bone lnfrostructure NITA-U Notionol lnformotion Technology Authority UBC UCC UPL UBOS MPS UGX SDG NBFP BTA BTC Gil Ugondo Broodcosting Corporotion Ugondo Communicotions Commission Ugondo Post Limited Ugondo Bureou of Stotistics Ministeriol Policy Stotement Ugondo shillings Sustoinoble Development Gool Notionol Budget Fromework Poper Botswono Telecommunicotion Authority Botswono Telecommunicotions Corporotion Globol lnnovotion lndex.
CHAPTER 1: 1.0 BACKGROUND TO ALTERNATIVE POLICY STATEMENT/ Lego!

Provisions.

The outhority to present the olternotive policy stotement is derived from Rule 146 of the rules of procedure of the Porlioment of Ugondo, ond section 6e of the odministrotion of Porlioment (Amendment) Act, 2006 which requires ond empowers the vorious shodow ministers to present olternotive policy stotements on the floor of House for considerotion ond possible implementotion.
1.2 Sector Overview The Digitol Tronsformotion sector is o fulcrum of development with o huge potentiol of improving the country's notionol productivity by moking government ond business efficient, effective, ond internotionolly competitivet.ICTCT sector chonges very fost requiring quick responses to keep poce with technologicol odvonces.

Otherwise, this notion willcontinue experiencing chollenges like limited network coveroge, ICT lnfrostructure, ond poor godgets.
The high cost of ICT devices ond services, rising rotes of cybercrime ond bullying, non- operotionolizotion of the UCC Tribunol ore I ossocioted with the bios within which UCC conducts its business.

The government needs to omend section 7 of the UCC 2013 Act to reduce the powers of the minister of lCT, reduce toxes on ICT devices ond services, ond increose ICT penetrotion.

CHAPTER 2: Budget Anolysis of the Sector.

The lnformqtion Communicotion Technology sector hos two votes.
Vote 020 coters for the Ministry of ICT ond Notionol Guidonce whose mission is to hove o knowledgeoble ond productive society driven by lnformotion, Communicotion Technology, ond Notionol ldeology.

Vote ,l26 belongs to the Notionol lnformotion I NDP III 1 Technology Authority (NITA-U) whose mission is to creote o technicol ond regulotory environment for the delivery of relioble ond secure e-services in Ugondo.
The spending ogencies under digitol tronsformotion include; the Ugondo Communicotions Commission (UCC), Ugondo Post Limited, Ugondo Broodcosting Corporotion (UBC), Ugondo lnstitute of lnformotion ond Communicotions Technology (UICT).

The sector policy ond oll octivities ore guided by the Sustoinoble Development Gool (SDG) 2030, Ugondo Vision 2040, NDP lll, ond other plonning guidelines ond fromeworks like progrom-bosed budgeting.
Despite the sector's centrolity ond potentiol of steering the economy of this country, the sector continues to be grossly underfunded with the reported funding of Ushs 242.55bn this finonciol yeor 2022/232 Perhops it is the reoson for the underperformonce of the sector in oreos of network coveroge, service delivery.

ICT knowledge, ond skills ond innovotion copocity.

2.1 Budget Allocotion ond Key oulcomes.


The totol budget estimotes for the ICT sector comprising of woge, on-woge Recurrent, Development, ond non-Tox revenue (NTR) this finonciol yeor 2022123 stonds of 303.lS8bn ollocoted os shown in the figure below3; z ICT Ministeriol Policy Stolement FY2O22l23 s ICT Ministeriol Policy Slotement FY2O22l23 2 2s.oz 26.588 48,s2 168.1 Source: Ministeriol Policy Stotement FY 2022123.
The totol of 303.,l58bn FY 2022123 is ollocoted to the lnformotion Communicotions Technology sector representing 0.8% of the totol notionol budgetr.

This ollocotion is higher thon lost FY 2021 l2l when the sector wos given 101 .77bn occounting for 0.3% of the notionol budget for the ICT sectors.

Even though there is on increose of 0.5 % points in budget ollocotion to the sector, the increment is still smoll given the funding gop of Ush 242.55bn for the FY 2022/23.
With the meogre resources given to the ICT sector ond given the huge funding gop, chonces ore high thot NDP lll torget of creoting 500,000 jobs, increose occess to internel lo 70% will not be reolised.

Besides, the long overdue proposed formotion of UCC Tribunol hos no funds ollocoted for the in the FY2022/23.
There ore reosons for worry given thot lost yeor's budget ollocotions were intended to increose ICT penetrotion ond use of ICT services for sociol-economic development, reducing the cost of ICT devices ond services, in oddition to creoting direct jobs which were never ochieved.

4 NBFP 2022/23.

s Notionol Budget Fromework Poper FY 2021122.

3 2.2. lnoppropriole ollocotion of funds.


UCC olone is toking 158.lbn which is more thon holf (55%) of the totol budget ollocoted (303.158) to the lnformotion Communicotion Technology sector.

The rest of the five ogencies (UBC, UICT, UPL, NITA-U, ond MoICT) shore the remoining 45% of the budget yet they ore olso importont in the ochievement of the torgeted output.

There is o need for equitoble distribution of resources ovoiloble.
UCC is still unoble to form the UCC tribunol thot would ossist it to ochieve on effective legol ond regulotory fromework6.

2.3 The mismolch between the Minisleriol policy slolemenl's projecled oulcome ond lhe performonce lorgels for ICT infrostructure in NBFP 2022/23.

lncreosed coveroge ond occess to lCT.

Percentoge of district 20,lB 30% s0% 60% 70% 7s% heodquorters connected to the NBI Percentoge of 20r B 6s% 80% Bs% 90% 95% porishes with broodbond connectivity Source: NBFP 2022/23.
Whereos, the minislry specifies spending on the estoblishment of ICT lobs ond connectivity of schools to high-speed internet ond UICT Centre of excellencez, the performonce indicotors in the NBFP 2022/23 performonce torgets indicotors in 6 tbid T tbid 4 FY2022123 os 50% connectivity of districts to NBI ond B0% porishes with broodbond connectivity.

2.4 The Ministeriol Policy Slolement didn't occounl for 8bn in the proposed budgela.
KPI/Output Activity/interve ntion torget 30 School ICT lobs ond school connected to high-speed internet UICT Centre of excellence Estoblishment of ICT lobs ond Connectivity of schools to high- speed internet Type Loborotory opprovol Unoccounted for (8bn)missing The Ministry budgeted 2.8bn for 30 ICT lobs ond connectivity of schools to high- speed internet ond 5bn for UICT Centre of excellence totolling 7.8bn but insteod presented l5.BObn leoving 8bn unoccounted for in the sub-totol of ICI infrostructure.
s tbid 5 2.5 Huge funding gops given the projected oulcomes in the Ministry.

Funds ollocoted Funding gop reporled Projected oulcomes l. lncreosing ICT penetrotion.

2.

Reducing the cost of ICT devices ond services.

3.

Enhonced efficiency ond productivity in service delivery 4.

Effective legol ond regulotory fromework.

5.

Creoting more jobs ond increosing government services online.

6. lncreosed oworeness ond citizen porticipotion in government progroms.
Sector & ICT NG UBC UCC UICT UPL Sector Porish Development Model Digitolizotion ond lnnovotion Communicotion ond chonge Mindset UBC - Signet Digitol UICT Literocy Posto-U Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) Vision group support to revomp vernoculor popers NITA-U NITA-U Totol 303.158bn 242.55bn Source: Ministeriol Policy Stotement FY 2022/23.

The funding gops in the ICT sector reveol government foilure to ochieve the set gools in the sector.
A greoter percentoge of the little funds ollocoted is recurrent expenditure on woges with very little or no funds for development expenditure.

Thus reolizing projected outcomes becomes quite difficult in o grossly 6 underfunded situotione.

Meeting torgets becomes questionoble os long os there is o mismotch between funds ollocoted, funding gops, proposed octions, ond the torgeted outcomes.

I ICT Ministeriol Policy Stotement FY2022/23 7 CHAPTER 3.
Emerging Seclorol lssues ond Alternolive Policies 3.1 High cosl of end-user ICT devices ond services.

The Telecommunicotions industry in Ugondo is one of the heovily toxed sectorsr0, with the current usoge tox on pre-poid mobile services stonding of 30 percent (lB percent ond l2 percent excise duty) moking it quite high by ony stondord.

Added to this, is o universol service levy of 2% on top of the high compony toxeslr.
Mobile money customers ore chorged o direct tox of 0.5% on the volue of mobile money withdrowol tronsoctionsr2.

All these toxes ore borne by the end-user either directly or indirectly.

ln effect, there is limited utilizotion of ICT services due to high prices.
A study corried out by UNCDF to find out the impoct of tox on digitolizing poyments in ogriculturol volue choins reveoled thot mobile money poyments in these volue choins become prohibitively expensive for poyers ond poyees os o direct result of the toxr3.

Despite the offordobility gops, the government hos mointoined the toxes on phone ond phone services high.

3.1.
3.1.

I Reducing cosfs of end-user ICT devices ond services by removing fhe foxes on ICT devices ond services would reduce fhe cosfs of end-us er ICT devices ond services.

ln Africo, it is Ugondo ond Zombio thot still chorge loxes on the inlernel use.

low-cosf devices ond services generote higher benefifs in form of odditionol increoses in penelrotion ond invesfmenf, generoting furlher goins in the wider economy os demond increoses.
This juslifies fhe lrode-off befween the two governmenf 's key ogendos, of domesfic fox revenue mobilizotion ond finonciol Reseorch ICT Africo 2019.

The slole of ICT in Ugondo.

Locoted ol: r0 URA.

Annuol Revenue Performonce Report FY 2019/2020.

tt hltos://reseorcnic I CT-in-Uqondo.

pdf .

Accessed on 23,d / 02/ 2022.


12.https://www.ofriconews.com/2018/05/31 /ugondo-s-porlioment-opproves-sociol-medio-ond- mobile-money-toxes// e_S_IhqSlotqol: re United Notions Copitol Development Fund, 'Leornings from lhe Field: Digitizing poyments in ogriculturol volue choins in Ugondo', UNCDF, Kompolo, 16 October 2018, https://www.uncdf .org/arlicle/4000/leornings-from-the-field-digitizirrg-poyments-in-ogriculturol- volue-choinsin-ugondo, occessed l9 October 2021.
8 inclusion through the digitolizolion of the economy.

Eliminoling wilhholding tox on income from mobile services would reduce fhe fox burden on operolors,leoding to lower prices of mobile services ond greofer invesf menl into mobile nefworks.

3.1.2 Provide fox exempfions fo lelecom-reloted indusfries to lowertheir cosfs of production.Tox exempfion should be given to lmporters ond reforlers of low-cosf phone devices fo moke them offordoble.
Ihrs policy encouroges deolers fo decreose prices qcross the hondsef morkei in order lo quolify for tox exempfion.

Ihe felec om componies ccrn moximize profifs with o soles moximizotion molive following reduced pricest t. 3.1.3 Adopl import subsfifufion strotegy os o woy of promoling the phones mode in Ugondo.

Moke the homemode phones offordoble qnd reodily ovoiloble compored fo fhe expensive foxed phones.
3.1 .4 Amend fhe dofo Consumer protection policy Io include clouses thot compel service providers to worn consumers of fhe dongers, ofter effecfs, cosfs of using phones ond phone services.

Ihis consumer protection policy is used on cigorette ond olcohol componies where consumers ore wqrned of the dongers of smoking.

fhe some opplies io olcoholic drinks where componies ore compelled to wrile olcohol contenl on the confoiners os well os worn consumers of fhe offer-effecfs of toking olcohol.
The policy should compel UCC fo devise meons of compelling service providers fo sensifize fhe generol public obout doto usoge.

Often o fime's mobile phone users don't disoble the automotic upgrodes on lheir phones.

Worning consumers lhot the insfolled opplicotions keep running in fhe bockground without the cusfomers' knowledge can sove their doto.

Otherwise, dolo will remoin high ond wosled in APPs upgrodes thol ore not frequenlly used.

t I lJ go nclcr Corn rn u nicotions Corn missio n 2420.
Consumer rig hts crt: https ://www.

ucc.co.uo/consu mer-rights/ occessed on 2 I * I 02 / 2022 Loccted 9 3.2 Foilure lo form the UCC Tribunol.

lt's now 25 yeors since UCC Tribunol wos first provided for in the repeoled 1997 Communicotions Act ond in the UCC Act 2013.

It is cleor thot the operotionolizotion of the tribunol is long overdue.
The coll for comments on the droft UCC regulotionsrs wos issued on the 27th Jon 2021 by the Itlinistry of lCT, ond for more thon o yeor now, the finol regulotion is not out.

The long deloy in estoblishing the tribunol hos limited the obility of the oggrieved citizens, the medio, ond telecom service providers to expeditiously contest some of UCC's ond the Ministry's pronouncementsr0.
Secondly, the composition of the proposed tribunol which includes o High Court judge ond two people oppointed by the president, os well os technicol odvisers oppointed by the ICT minister undermines its importiolity, porticulorly with the oppointment of the members by the governmentrT.

Experience hos shown thot persons oppointed by the lr4inister or the president tend to be inclined to promote their interests in the execution of their mondote which curtoils freedom of expression ond speechrs.
Alternotive policies.

Ihe speed of which ICT chonges mokes dispufes inevitoble os new by-producls, new inleresfs closh wilh trodilionol ones.
Policymokers ond regulotors should recognize effecfive dispufe resolufion os on importonl role of feleco mmunicotion policy ond regulotion wilhout which the country will deloy lhe introduclion of new services ond infrostructure, block or reduce lhe flow of copitol from inyesfors, limif competition leoding to higher pricing ond lower seryice quolity ond generolly retord liberolizotion thot comes with economic, sociql ond lechnicol development.

ts Ministry of ICT 2021.


Coll for Commenls- on -lhe- droft UCC- Tribunol- Regulotions -2020. r6 Low, Democrocy & Developmenl 2021.

Regulotor or Controller: A five -yeor onolysis of the cot ond mouse gomes between the Ugondo Communicotions Commission ond broodcosters in Ugondo.

17 Collaboration on lnternational ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) 2021,, Uganda Communications Tribunal: Regulations fall short of constituting an impartial Arbiter.

rB Low, Democrocy & Developmenl 2021.


Regulotor or Controller: A five -yeor onolysis of the cot ond mouse gomes between the Ugondo Communicotions Commission ond broodcosters in Ugondo.

10 Ugondo con officiolly moke ovoiloble vorious conflicf resolufion mechonisms given the differing conflicfs requiring dispufe resolufion opprooches.
Ihere ore dispufes reloted to liberolizotion, invesfme nt, interconnecfion dispufes, belween service providers, dispufes befween regulotors ond service providers, consumer dispufes, dispufes relofed to internolionol trode, ond rodiofrequency requiring speciolzed opprooches.

Below ore fhe proposed policy olternqlives fo the foiled operotionolizolion of the UCC Tribvnolle; 3.2.1 Court odjudicolion Ihis remoins fhe finql recourse of mony fypes of dispufes especiolly lhose lhot ore less policy reloted.
However, this opprooch hos high cosfs ond deloys ond o lock of lelecommunicofions-specific expedise fo preside over lhe complex felecom industry dispufes.

This type should be used in cose govemmenf finds it so difficull lo operolionolize UCC Tribunol without ony more deloy.

3.2.2 Alternolive dispufe resolulion (ADR) policy.


ln the obsence of formol conflicl resolufion opprooches, less formol meons of dispufe resolufion like negotiotion, mediotion ond orbitrolion con be used; 3.2.2.1 Negotiotion ond mediotion where porfies ore encouroged to idenlify common inleresfs for "win-win" solufions.

UCC should require the worring podies to try negotiotion or mediotion before bringing their dispufes fo fhe regulotor.
3.2.2.2 Arbilrotion con be used where the worring porfies seffle their grievonces with the help of oppoinfed qrbilrofors.

fhis is good for lhe dispuling porfies os they retoin confidentiolity, conlrol over fhe design of the process, ond defermine fhe speed of which fhe process proceeds, in fhe cose of internotionol orbilrolion nevtrality of the forum is ossured compored Io the locol courfs of low.

3.2.3 Hire o Consulfing Firm fo resolve conflicfs.

1e International Telecommunication Union (ITU).


The World Bank - Geneva, 2004 located at; accessed on 26thl 03 12022.

Res-E. 1_1.
Res-E. 1_1.

Given fhe fechnicol noture of lhe lelecom induslry, UCC con supplemenl ifs sfoff resources by hiring o reputoble internolionol firm with experience in conflict resolulion in the felecom induslry, fhe woy Bofswono Telecommunicolions Authorily (BTA) did in 1999 in o dispufe befween Bofswono Telecommunicofions Corporotion (BTC) ond fhe two mojor operotors in Bofswono, Moscom Wireless ond Visto Celluro (BTA Ruling NO.l of 1999).

Emerging issue.

3.

3.

The Biosed conduct of UCC.


On severol occosions, UCC hos disployed bios in the execution of its mondote.

UCC wos given excessive powers to receive, investigote ond orbitrote comploints reloting to communicotions services qnd toke necessory octionszo.

For instonce, in June 2018, Oct 2021, UCC worned broodcosters ogoinst discussing certoin topicszt.
Recently, in Jonuory 2021 , during the generol elections, Government through UCC ordered on internet shutdown, blockoge of sociol medio sites, Wrote to Google to block I4 YouTube chonnels over ollegotions of broodcosting informotion thot compromised notionol security22.

ln view of the obove, UCC is viewed os o comploinont, o prosecutor, ond o judge in the some dispute.

This is mode worse by the deloy ond foilure to estoblish the proposed UCC Tribunol meont to hondle communicotions disPute5zs.
Alternotive policy.

3.3.1 Moke omendmenfs fo fhe UCC Act, 2013.

Amend Secfion 93(1) fhof gives excessive powers to lhe Minister fo moke regvlolions governing the broodcosting secfor withoul lhe opprovol of porlioment, There rs o need lo avoid o repeol of whol hoppened in 2017 when despife porliomenf 's mofion fo exfend fhe deodline zo Section 5 (j).

UCC Act, 2013.
UCC Act, 2013.

21 Collaboration on lnternational ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) 2021, Uganda Communications Tribunal: Regulations fall short of constituting an impartial Arbiter.

zz hltps:/locme-ug .org/2019 /02/OBlucc-threotens-to-shut-down-monitor-website/ 23 UCC Act, 2013.

Section 60 of lhe UCC Act.

12 for SIM cord registrotion, the Minisfer wenl oheod ond direcfed UCC to swilch off oll unverified cordsza.
Ihis come oboul becouse, in 2017, porliomenl hod possed the UCC (Amendment) Bill, 2016 which omended secfion 93(l) of ihe 2013 UCC Act thol eliminoled the checks ond bolonces on lhe ICT Minisler's powers when the requiremenf for porliomenlory opprovol of regulofions proposed by the ICT Ministry wos removed.

Emerging lssue.

3.4 Increosed Cybercrime ond Cyberbullying in the counlry.
There is o growing trend of cybercrime in Ugondozs in the form of froud, child pornogrophy, ond violotion of privocy in the country20.

Some people hove become victims of Cyberbullying which hos coused o lot of emborrossment or humiliotionzz.

Cybercriminols hove robbed people's money, in 2020 olone, hockers used oround 2,000 mobile SIM cords to goin occess to the mobile money poyment system2a.

lt is reported, Shs l5bn wos lost through cyber froud in 2020 olonezc.
ln the following yeor,2021 o totol of 256 coses of cybercrime were reported compored lo 248 coses in 2020, giving rise to o 3.2% increose in cyber criminolity in the country3o.ln 2020 olone, the cybercrime desk coordinoted 221 coses of Hi- tech internotionol ond economic crimes thot led to o loss of USD 4,041,474.6831.

Unless checked, cybercrime will continue cousing o lot of finonciol loss.
24 tbid 2s Ugondo Police Force 202l.Annuol crime reporl 2O2O-1 26 ibid 2/ ibid 28 ibid 2e ibid 30 ibid 3r tbid 13 3.4.1 Amend iCT-reloted lows lo moke them relevant.

Technology chonges very fosl32, ond so is fhe need fo omend fhe Computer Misuse Act, 201l, the DoIo Protection & Privocy Ac[2019, Ugondo Communicotion Act,20l3logether with Communicofions (Proclice ond Procedure) regulolion, 2005.
Amend secfions reloting to personol ond fomily proteclion, secondly cyber security for smortphones, fhirdly, omend oreos reloting to protecting vitol infrostruclure, ond lostly oreos for strict government regulolion ond moniloring of cyber ocfivifies.

3.4.2 Develop fhe copocity of fhe Depoimenl of Forensics.

Ihis con be done by upgroding the Ugondo Police deportment of forensics with the required skills ond eguipment to corry out cybercrime invesfigofions to a conclusive end.
Ihis will enoble fhe sfofe fo moke lhe culprits occountoble for their misdeeds.

3.4.3 A deliberole recruitment policy in Ugondo Police Force.

Police humon resource deportment should recruit ond lroin more experfs ond periodically upgrode fheir skills, especiolly in oreos of Bollistic, Hondwriting, Cyber forensics, ond olher oreos of expertise.

Ihis is fo enoble it to oppty scienfific fechnigues in fhe prevention when corrying ouf invesfigotion ond defeclion of cybercrime.
3.4.4 The police force should creofe lhe lnlernef Crime Comploinf Cenfre fo collect repods of internet-relqled crimes from lhe public.

Emerging issue 3.5 limited Nelwork Coveroge, ICT infroslruclure, ond poor godgels limiting conneclivity.

With the optic fiber network of 12,000 km covering only 49 percent of the districts ond 24 percent of the sub-counties in Ugondo, its broodbond infrostructure is significontly poor euolityss.
Poor quolity terminol equipment ond locol Areo Networks (LANs) worsen the uptoke of services of some MDAs/LGs3a.No 32 Uniled Nolions Conference on Trode & Developmenl2O2O.

The lmpoct of ropid Technologicol Chonge on Sustoinoble Development.

so Nolionol Plonning Authority 2020 NDP lll.

34lbid t4 wonder Ugondo is the third leost-connected country ofter Rwondo ond Mozombiguess.
About 98% of the people ore connected to 2G while 89% are connected to 3G networks ond only 47% of the people ore connected to 4G network technology36.

About o third (30%) of the urbon dwellers use the internet in Ugondo while only nine (9%l of Ugondons living in rurol oreos hove occess to the internetsT.
While the government rolled out the Lost Mile Connectivity Project to expond the NBI through loying 732km of fiber optic coble, odding more 700 sites to the NBI with more odditionol 300 Wi-Fi Hotspots, lock of electricity is responsible for the poor urbon-rurol internet use ond mobile penetrotion rotes in Ugondo.

Only l8% of the households in Ugondo hove on electricity connection38.
By June 2021, the totol number of smortphone/internet-enobled godgets connected to networks stood o19.7 million godgets, while the feoture phones ond bosic phones connected to the network were 22.4 million godgets in Ugondo3e.

With less thon holf of the populotion owning phonesao, the mojority of the phones con only support bosic browsing opplicotions leoving o huge gop in hornessing the potentiol for mobile broodbond connectivity+t.
Unfortunotely, UBC under Signol Network Limited (SIGNET) which is mondoted to steer the country's digitol migrotion from 55 percent to 95 percent os required in the NDP lll is not well fundedaz.

Allernotive policies.

ss The slote of ICT in Ugondo 20l9.Reseorch ICT Africo.

36 Ugondo Bureou of Stotistics 2021 stotisticol Abstroct.

az The slole of ICT in Ugondo 20l9.Reseorch ICT Africo.

38 ibid 3e ibid 40 ibid ar Ugondo Communicolions Commission 2021.

Morkel Performonce Report 2021 .


rz lnformolion Communicolion Technology 2021.

Semi-Annuol Monitoring Report FY 2O2Ol21 15 3.5.1 Fosf -trock rurol electrificotion in the country.

To lmprove ICI penefrofion os proposed by NPA43, there is o need to octuolize rurol eleclrificofion sfrofegy ond plon 2013-202244.

3.5.2 Promote Demqnd sfimulofion of ICT Devices ond services.

Ihis is poromounf in sfeering prcgrcss in ICI device usoge ond services.
Ihis con be achieved by shifting people from possive consumers to producfive consumers of ICT devices ond services.

Develop wider skillsefs to improve enfrepreneurship opplicotion of lCf services fhql creofes jobs.

ln sddition to offordoble digitol devices ond lower prices of dolo, demond stimulqtion con be o gome-changer in lhe digilol world.

3.5.3 Enforce fhe use of ICT services in fhe country.
Digitol lronsformotion con be supporled by introducing ond enforcing fhe use of digital ( smort) heolth, digitol ( smarl ) ogriculture, digital ( smart) monufoctvring, digitol ( smorl) cifies, online sfudies, to complement fhe alreody exisfing e-governmenf onlfne service delivery.

3.6 Unfoir Compelition omong Telecommunicotions operotors.

The UCC Act (Cop 106) ended the monopoly of Ugondo Telecom Limited (UTL) giving rise to the liberolizotion of the ICT sector.
However, the telecommunicotion sector remoins highly concentroted with two big componies nomely MTN ond Airtel both combined toking up 82% of the Ugondon morket, with Airtel shore stonding al 45% ond MTN ol 37% of the totol mobile subscription5+s.

UTL hos o morket shore of 8% in the country.

Monopolistic, ond duopoly morkets leod to shortcomings like poor service delivery, high prices in oddition to limited choice.
The dominonce Of o few firms block new entronts ond mokes other operotors +s Nolionol Plonning Authority 2020.

Third Notionol Development Plon ( NDP lll) 2020/21-2024125 44 Rurol Electrificotion Strotegy ond Plon 2013-2022.

4s Reseorch ICT Africo 2019.

The stote of ICT in Ugondo.

Locoted ot ICT-in-Ugondo.pdf .

Accessed on 23,d lO2l 2022 16 remoin morginol, in oddition to forcing some to leove the industry like Vodocom ond K2, ond Africellaa.

Allernotive policies.


3.6.1 Ihe unfoir complelion is mode unbeoroble in fhe obsence of fhe UCC Tribunol whose mo,ndqte wos infended fo oddress chollenging issues ployers in the ICI induslry foce.

So fhe ollernolive policies given for lock of o Tribunol would solve unfoir competition omong the compefin g firms.

3.7 Reslriclion of Press ond MedioaT.


The government through UCC continues to restrict the press ond medio in fovour of the ruling porty ond ogoinst the opposition porties, especiolly during election time.

The UPF's Medio ond Politicol Crimes Unit ond the communicotions regulotor Ugondo Communicotions Commisslon closely monitors oll rodio, television, ond print medio.

Thls is in totol violotion of freedom of expression enshrined in the constitution.
During the election period, the government restricted ond disrupted occess to the internet, censored online content, ond monitored internet communicotions without oppropriote legol outhority in oddition to punishing internet users who expressed divergent politicol views.

UPF officers orrested journolists for hosting opposition politicions on rodio stotions.
Alternolive policies 3.7.1 Allernolive for 3.2 obove would solye fhe porlison bios of public stotulory bodies like UBC, UCC ond UPF who oct in fofol disrespecf of medio freedoms.

46 Reseorch ICT Africo 2019.

The stote of ICT in Ugondo.

Locoted ot Irttps://reseqrchicl_sfrico.net/wr:/wp-qontent/uoloods/2O!21O1ln2_NlerAeee-ss:T_h*lt_Sle_:al: I CT-i n-Uqondo.pcjf .

Accessed on 23,4 / O2l 2022. a7 Ugondo humon rights report 2020. t7 NB.
While lnnovafion Technology Deve/opment ond Transfer Secfor is o standalone secfor, if hos been incorporated wifh the ICT seclor due to the fact that innovation ond the /Cf secfor ore c/ose/y reloted.

18 EMERGING ISSUES FOR INNOVATION.

TECHNOTOGY DEVELOPMENT & TRANSFER SECTOR.

3.8 Poor performonce of fhe secfor.


Science ond Technology require heovy investment but unfortunotely, Ugondo hos not invested odequotely to develop the sector4s.Ugondo's Gross Domestic Product expenditure on R&D is 0.7 which is low.

This meogre expenditure puts it score low of the internotionol level.

The Globol lnnovotion lndex (Gll) ronks Ugondo of I l9 out of 132 countries, compored to Kenyo, Rwondo, ond Tonzonio ronked of 85,.l02 ond 90, respectivelyar.
The current Gll score deviotes so much from the torgeted Gll score of 3l by NDP lll projections for lhe FY2022123.

As a result, out of the expected 282 ICT innovotion products developed ond commerciolised only 72 hod been ochieved by Ugondo by 202050.
Key NDP lll under Science Technology Reseorch & Development outcome indicolors lndicolors Boseline Torgets FY2017 ltB 2021123 2021/22 2023124 2024125 Global lnnovation lndex (%) Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a Yo of GDP 25.32 27.00 29.00 0.4 0.5 0.6 33.00 0.8 35 1.0 aa Notiono I Plo nni ng Authorily 2020.

N D P lll 2O2O I 21 -2024 / 25.

4sGlobol lnnovotion lndex2O2l .l 4t,Edition.locoled ol https:/lwww.wioo.inl/edocs/pubdocs/en/wipo pub gii 2021 exec.pdf 24th/0312022.
occessed on so N o tionol Plon nin g Authority 2020.

N D P lll 2O2O I 21 -2024 / 25 19 Source: NDP lll lnnovotion, Technology Development ond Tronsfer Progromme lmplementotion Action Plon 2020.

Allernolive policy.

3.8.1 lnlroduce on innovotion fox whose proceedings should be pooled inlo on innovolion fund purposely creofed for inyesf ment in science ond technology.
The pooled funds from the innovotion tox odded to olher sources be it domesfic or foreign con roise the required ond projecled Gross expendif ure on Reseorch ond Developmenf os o percenfoge of GDP envisoged in NDP lll.

3.8.2The innovotion tox con olso become qn incentive for locql produce to gel morket if thot tox moinly torgets imported goods ihol we con produce locolly in fhe country.

The increosed cilizens' demond for local produce will encourcge locql production.

Emerging lssue.
Emerging lssue.

3.9 High innovolion foilure role.

According to the Auditor-Generols 2021/22 report, 450 (88%) out of 512 government-funded projects of MUK, Kyombogo, ond Busitemo Universities were not completed.

Similorly, 218 (62.3%) out of 350 Donor funded gronts from 4 Universities were not completed in time.

The rote of turning innovotions into tongible outputs with the economic impoct on development is worryingly lowst.
A few completed funded innovotion projects deloy so much so thot occounling for funds spent is o problems2.

Allernolive policy.

3.9.1 Embork on o comprehensive progrom of supporting indigenous lechnology.

5r lbid sz Audilor Generol's Report FY 2021/22.

20 Supporf emerging locol innovolors who ore alreody of some sfoge so thot lhey con do better.

The numerous indigenous skillsefs together with the locol ovoiloble cheop resources con eosrly be upgroded lo our comporolive odvonfoge.
Ihe funds ore directed towqrds whot we con do besf, firsi to nolionol ond nexf fo occeploble inlernqtionol stondords.

Ihis should be supported by Buy Ugondo Bvild Ugondo (BUBU) for on ossured morkel for locol innovolions fhe woy Chino lorgeted indigenous innovolion ond offered fhe fechnology innovotors o mossive ossured domesfic morkel which mode if develop fechnologicolly.

ldenlify ond commit resources lo fhe production of goods where fhe counlry hos o compqrotive qdvonloge.
Herbol medicine could be one of lhem, ogricullure, ond tcT.

Chopter 4.

Conclusion.

The Digitol Tronsformotion sector is centrol in virtuolly oll sociol economic ond politicol octivities of our doily lives.

lt is therefore o fulcrum of development deserving the ottention of oll concerned.

There is on urgent need to ollocote enough resources to the sector.

For inclusiveness, moke the devices ond services offordoble by reducing the numerous toxes imposed in the sector.
Dispute resolulion is cruciol in o fost-moving developing sector, the formotion of the UCC Tribunol is long overdue to oddress the numerous chollenges in the sector.

Most of the issues offecting the sector seem to rotote oround lock of orbitrotion, negotiotion to resolve issues in the sector.

2t